The Daily Objects Surge MagSafe Battery Pack: A Handy Charge, But Not a Powerhouse
The world of mobile accessories is constantly evolving, with new innovations emerging at a rapid pace. One such innovation was Apple’s MagSafe, a magnetic charging system that has revolutionized how we power our iPhones. Since its introduction, a plethora of MagSafe-compatible accessories have flooded the market, including wireless battery packs, which offer the ultimate in convenience by seamlessly attaching to your iPhone and delivering a power boost on the go. While Apple’s own MagSafe Battery Pack had its share of shortcomings, many third-party manufacturers have stepped up to offer improvements, and the Daily Objects Surge Magnetic MagSafe Wireless Battery Pack is one such contender. But does this homegrown brand deliver a charging experience that truly lives up to the hype? Let’s delve into the details to find out.
Daily Objects Surge Design and Specifications
The Daily Objects Surge makes a strong first impression with its sleek and premium design. Built from ABS plastic with a matte finish, the Surge exudes an aura of quality, resisting fingerprints and looking stylish in your hand. The top edge features a bright orange button for waking up the display and a USB Type-C port for wired charging. Nestled between these elements is a discreet LED display that illuminates the charge status through the rear panel. This clever design ensures a sleek aesthetic when not in use, but when you need to check the battery capacity, the display shines through with a green indicator for fast charging.
On the back, the Surge offers a built-in metal kickstand that folds out to provide two viewing angles – a vertical stand for easy viewing of your iPhone’s display and a horizontal angle great for keeping your iPhone upright while charging or utilizing the new Standby mode in iOS 17.
The magnetic alignment of the MagSafe magnets is flawless. Tested on both an iPhone 14 Plus and an iPhone 14 Pro, the Surge effortlessly snapped onto both devices with a firm grip, resisting accidental detachment, even in a backpack or pocket. This secure connection requires a bit of force to separate the charger, which is a welcomed feature for a device that could easily be jostled loose.
The Surge’s dimensions make it a good fit for the iPhone 14 Pro, being as wide as the phone but slightly shorter in height. This placement of the MagSafe magnets closer to the top edge keeps the iPhone floating above the bottom of the charger. When paired with the larger iPhone 14 Plus, however, the phone covers the charger completely, sitting about 2 inches higher at the top with no extra space at the bottom.
The Surge weighs a sturdy 209g, making it as heavy as the iPhone 14 Pro or iPhone 14 Plus. While this might feel somewhat chunky on the iPhone 14 Pro, it feels more proportional on the larger iPhone 14 Plus. Despite its weight, the Surge is still compact enough to slide into a regular-fit jeans pocket, though it may struggle to fit into slim-fit jeans.
Daily Objects Surge Performance – Delivering on Convenience, but Not Power
Given that the Daily Objects Surge is primarily designed for iPhones with MagSafe capabilities, it was tested extensively with both iPhone 14 Pro (3,200mAh battery) and iPhone 14 Plus (4,323mAh battery). According to Daily Objects, the wireless battery pack can charge an iPhone at a maximum of 15W wirelessly or 18W using a cable. However, the actual performance deviates from this claim due to the "MagSafe Compatible" certification applied to the product.
While "MagSafe Compatible" may sound impressive, it unfortunately translates to limited charging speeds of 7.5W for wireless charging. In contrast, "Made for MagSafe" certified products can achieve the full 15W charging rate. This limitation means that the Surge is restricted to Qi charging speeds – whether charging from the battery pack itself or when used as a regular charger plugged into a wall outlet. Consequently, the regular wired Apple MagSafe charger can actually charge faster at 15W, but requires a 20W charging adapter to function.
The Surge also has the ability to charge two devices simultaneously, but with a total output of 20W, it’s recommended to charge only a secondary accessory alongside your iPhone, as attempting to charge another smartphone will throttle charging speeds.
Wireless charging tests with the iPhone 14 Pro yielded a 26 percent charge in 30 minutes and a full charge in 2 hours and 21 minutes. However, this left a mere 40 percent of the 10,000mAh capacity remaining, signifying that the Surge could only manage another top-up charge, not a full recharge.
Charging the larger iPhone 14 Plus wirelessly was noticeably slower, reaching just 16 percent after 30 minutes and taking a full 3 hours and 26 minutes to complete. This resulted in a significantly smaller remaining capacity of just 22 percent.
Wired charging provided a clear improvement in charging performance for both iPhones. The Surge delivered a 61 percent charge in 30 minutes and a complete charge in 1 hour and 53 minutes for the iPhone 14 Pro, leaving ample capacity (enough for another full charge) in the battery pack. With the iPhone 14 Plus, the Surge achieved a 49 percent charge in 30 minutes and a full charge in 2 hours and 2 minutes with a remaining capacity of 36 percent. Pairing the Surge with an iPhone 14 Pro yielded an impressive extended battery life, effectively providing an entire extra day of heavy usage.
Daily Objects Surge Verdict: Convenience Reigns Supreme, but With Caveats
The Daily Objects Surge Magnetic MagSafe Wireless Battery Pack is primarily about convenience. Its compact design and seamless magnetic connection offer a hassle-free way to keep your iPhone topped up. Although it excels when used with a wired connection, the Surge shines brightest as a companion for smaller or standard-sized iPhones. While it can effectively charge larger models like the iPhone 14 Plus, it’s better suited for providing top-up charges than delivering a full recharge due to its relatively limited capacity.
Wireless charging speeds may not be super impressive, but the convenience factor is undeniable. Keep the Surge attached to your iPhone and you can rest assured it will remain at 100 percent until the Surge itself runs out of juice. This setup is particularly appealing for those who dislike the clutter of cables, especially for older iPhone models that still rely on Lightning connectors.
In essence, the Daily Objects Surge delivers a practical and elegantly designed solution for charging your iPhone, but its limitations in wireless charging speeds and its suitability for smaller iPhones should be considered before making a purchase.
Key Features:
- Pros:
- Compact and premium design.
- Fold-out metal kickstand for comfortable viewing.
- Charging status display for clear visibility.
- Faster wired charging for efficient power delivery.
- Secure MagSafe magnets with a firm grip ensuring stability.
- Cons:
- Only manages a single full charge for Plus/Max models.
Price: Rs. 5,999
